ABOUT GEL

The Grants for Engaged Learning (GEL) program supports a wide range of engaged learning
projects including, but not limited to, classroom and non-classroom-based projects,
service learning, undergraduate research, learning communities, and inquiry-based
learning. These projects may be extracurricular, co-curricular or curricular and should
promote application of knowledge to the communities served by the university. Furthermore,
the purpose of the GEL program is to support projects that enriches the academic or
UVU community in a broad and enduring way.

The communities served by UVU include:

Academic / discipline community

UVU community

Local community

State community

Global community

In the spirit of Carnegie Foundation designation, GEL projects should be designed
to help realize the two engagement categories that UVU has achieved:

Curricular Engagement

Curricular Engagement describes the teaching, learning, and scholarship that engages
faculty, students, and community in mutually beneficial and respectful collaboration.
Their interactions address community identified needs, deepen students' civic and
academic learning, enhance community well-being, and enrich the scholarship of the
2015 Carnegie Elective Community.

Outreach and Partnerships

Outreach and Partnerships describe two different but related approaches to community
engagement. The first focuses on the application and provision of institutional resources
for community use with benefits to both campus and community. The latter focuses on
collaborative interactions with community and related scholarship for the mutually
beneficial exchange, exploration, and application of knowledge, information, and resources
(research, capacity building, economic development, etc.)

These categories provide the vision for GEL and the goal of supporting a broad range
of projects. Thus, we strive to be as inclusive and transparent as possible. Although
this is a competitive process, we seek to be accessible and encourage you to contact
Dr. Tafalla or your area representative on the GEL committee early for advice and support before applying.